Debt Elimination 2

The First Step To Debt Elimination

Regardless of your personal and financial circumstances, your education and your background, the chances are the first step you need to take in debt elimination has to take place in your mind. The Western mindset, especially in the US and UK, is firmly fixed on consumer debt. It is the way you have been reared in a debt ridden society.

To be realistic, let us assume that total debt elimination is not practical, nor necessarily desirable, from a financial point of view. The one major exception is in buying a house. When you buy a house, very few people are likely to be in a position to do so with cash. Unless they have inheritance, are very wealthy, are moving down the house market, or moving from an expensive to a cheap area, people buying a house will require a mortgage.

There can be considerable financial gains in the long run from taking on mortgage debt. Firstly, you have to live somewhere, so living in your own home is more desirable than renting for the rest of your life. Secondly, if you are lucky the capital growth on the house over the years will increase your underlying wealth, in a way that cannot happen with rented accommodation, which has the opposite affect. So, let us assume, for the purpose of this article, that by debt elimination we mean the elimination of all your consumer debt, except your home mortgage.

You may well find that, if you can change your mindset to be against borrowing to feed your consumer desires, that mortgage will be paid off much sooner than your average contemporaries. When you reach that stage, then there is every possibility that your debt elimination will become total, and your mindset will be so changed that there is never a need to take on any new debt.

Changing The Mindset To Support Debt Elimination

You are unlikely to find it easy to alter your attitude towards consumer debt. After all, it is the way you have probably been brought up, surrounded by easy credit. However, changing that mindset is both possible and financially desirable; debt elimination is achievable if you can successfully get through this first stage in the process.

So, how do you change the way you think about debt? Now, I am talking purely about consumer debt, not borrowing money to start or expand a business; about using debt to satisfy your material desires earlier than you can really afford them. Business finance can, and often does, justify itself through increasing your wealth at a faster rate than the interest charges decrease your wealth.

Consumer debt, on the other hand, is guaranteed to reduce your financial well being. When you borrow money to spend on consumable items, such as holidays, and diminishing assets, such as cars, then your wealth building is undermined; your assets are reduced over time. That, really, is the key to altering your mindset to favour the elimination of debt from your life. You need to:

1. Be aware that consumer debt is not good for your financial well being. You are increasing the bank's assets, and decreasing your own, by spending on credit.

2. You need to resent the fact that the banks make money out of you, when it should be the other way round. It's your hard earned money we're talking about here.

By giving constant focus to those two things you may develop a mindset that is shifting towards debt elimination. You can then give yourself greater strength in your determination by convincing yourself that, not only is debt elimination possible in the long term, but it will bring with it many rewards:

1. You will feel financially comfortable and in control; it really is a great feeling as those around you drown themselves in debt.

2. Over the years you will accumulate significant wealth compared to those earning the same amount but whose debt has always been out of control.

3. You will be able to walk in to a travel agent and pay cash, or debit card, for each vacation, while the person behind you in the queue will probably pay by credit card and then struggle the whole year to pay it off before the next vacation.

4. You will be able to walk into a car dealer and negotiate the best possible price for a new car as a cash buyer, knowing that the cash is your own and not the bank's.

5. You will be saving regularly for all your needs, while paying off your mortgage within the term.

All the while, your wealth will be accumulating, not being stripped bare by interest charges.

Imagine, in 10, or even 5, years' time, a comfortable financial life with no pressures. You may not be a millionaire, but beside your peer group you will be a beacon of financial stability and growing wealth. It's a long term process, but once you have the mindset, the journey can become a smooth one, with good planning and determination. Debt elimination really can be the final goal.

In the next article I will look at planning to eliminate debt.

This debt elimination article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Eliminate Credit Card Debt Now website.

---

Debt Reduction, a Necessary Endeavour

Massive debt is something many Americans face. Debt reduction is... Read More

The Last Debt Solution Should Be Bankruptcy

A debt solution like bankruptcy should really only be used... Read More

Getting Past The Idea Of Budgeting & Saving Money

I'm sure you'll agree that budgeting, saving money, and eliminating... Read More

Bankruptcy Abuse

Bankruptcy is little more than a smack on the hand... Read More

Christian Debt Consolidation ? Feel Comfortable About Managing Your Debt

Many Christians feel uncomfortable with the notion of being in... Read More

Stop Debt Collectors

Can you stop debt collectors ? . . .You better... Read More

Life on a Debt Management Program

Signing up for a debt management program is easy; it's... Read More

How Do I Lower My Debt Burdens?

How do I lower my debts?There are several ways of... Read More

Credit And Debt Relief--A One Stop Solution

Amy Wright, 34, was extatic when her realtor showed her... Read More

Tips To Take Control Of Debt Collection

Yes, debt collection tips can help. You may think you... Read More

Bankruptcy - Is It The Right Choice For You?

Bankruptcy is one of the tougher choices we as adults... Read More

What is Debt Settlement and How Does it Work?

Debt settlement involves negotiating with a creditor or creditors to... Read More

How to Become Debt Free

In today's consumer society it is all too easy to... Read More

Credit Counseling ? Signs That You May Need Help

Credit counseling is a viable option for those who are... Read More

Credit Card Debt & the Unfairness of the Universal Default Clause

Let's look at a real world example: A woman purchased... Read More

Bankruptcy - The New Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne's book The Scarlet Letter states in Chapter 2,... Read More

Bankruptcy Reform

There are some new bankruptcy laws going into effect before... Read More

Selecting A Credit Counselor; Asking The Right Questions.

When you find yourself thinking about using a credit counseling... Read More

Debt Problems? You Can Negotiate With Your Creditors

It is always possible to negotiate with creditors ? even... Read More

Dealing with Thingitis

Debt is quickly becoming an epidemic in America. However, through... Read More

Dont Drown Your Debts, Manage Them!

Are you among the millions of people who have found... Read More

Two Ways To Debt Relief

There are many debt relief programs out there both off... Read More

Debt Elimination 2

The First Step To Debt EliminationRegardless of your personal and... Read More

How to Negotiate Debt Settlement

People over extend themselves financially as a result of a... Read More

Debt Recovery Can be Easy

OK, so you are up to your head in debt.... Read More